Louise McMonagle

Biography

When Glasgow-born Louise started learning the ‘cello as a child of six, she little imagined then that it would become her career. But, as she says, thanks to great teachers and a lot of hard work she has seen the diversity of life in the music profession. She has performed across four continents to audiences in all kinds of venues ranging from bars, clubs and living rooms (with pets roaming free) through to the world’s finest concert halls.

At the age of 11, Louise won a place at the Douglas Academy Music School, where she was the fastest advancing student her ‘cello teacher had taught. She went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London, graduating with a first-class honours and receiving the Dip RAM for outstanding final recital. In 2001, Louise won the Allie Cullen Memorial Award for best performance overall at the Glasgow Music Festival.

Louise was accepted onto the postgraduate course in performance at the music academy in Basel, Switzerland. Entry onto this course is highly competitive, and only three ‘cellists were accepted. She is considered a rare talent who has the ability to reach the top of her profession.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will provide essential finance to help Louise pursue postgraduate studies in Basel.

Since the Award

Louise graduated with a Konzertdiplom with distinction. She writes that in addition to studying with cellist, Thomas Demenga, she was also able to "take baroque cello lessons with Petr Skalka, quartet lessons with renowned quartet players Rainer Schmitt and Walter Levin, improvisation lessons with Walter Fendrich and modern chamber music lessons with Marcus Weiss." She formed the modern music cello trio "Trio Riot", with whom she continues to perform, and reached the semi finals of the international cello competition, Gianni Bergamo Classic Music Award.

Louise now lives and works in London. She is a member of the contemporary music group, Ensemble Amorpha, and is recording an album with the jazz ensemble, Tangent.